Sewing-machine needle-controlling mechanism



April 15, 1930. F. M. CARD SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE CONTROLLING MECHANISMFiled June 9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Maia/Mama ATTORNEY Aprii15, 1930.

F. M. CARD SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed June 9,1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATESFREDERIO CARD, OF BRIDGEPQR T, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOE TO THE SINGER MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, 31? ELIZABETH, IEEVI' JERSEY, A GOREOR'ATION OF NEWJERSEY Application filed June 9,

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines moreparticularly of that class in which means are provided for throwing aneedle temporarily out o1 action during the continued operation of theother mechanism of the machine. The primary object of thisinvention isto provide a compact, durable and eiiicient mechanism for automaticallyrecoupling a needle-bar with its actuating mechanism after apredetermined period oi operation of the machine subsequently to thethrowing out of action under manual control of the disconnectedneedle-bar, including in dicating means successively denoting the cyclesof operation of the actuating mechanism of the machine while the needleis disconnected therefrom.

lhe present needle-bar controlling means comprises an'improvement moreparticularly of the device disclosed in the prior patent oi J. Kerr, No.1,588,030, June 8, 1926. In its preferred embodiment, it is'applied to atwo-needle sewing machine in which two needle-bars are normally coupledfor unison reciprocation and in-which one ofthe needlebars may be atwill disconnected from its actuating mechanism in the production ofangular seams. In the formation of seams of this character, the workmust be turned by tire operator about the operative needle to change thedirection of seam-formation, and the present improvement provides meansindicating to an operator the eiiacttime when the work must be turned toavoid an elongated or double stitch when the disconnected needle-bar isautomatically recoupled with its actuating mechanism, in conformity withthe distance between the needles and the length of stitch. Themeanslemployed for effecting the automatic re-coupling with itsactuating mechanism or" the manually disconnected needle-bar comprisesin eiiect an adjustable stitch-counting ,device, which als indicates thformation of successive stitches by the op crative needle while theother needle is idle.

It is essential for efficient operation of the needle-bar controllingdevice to provide positive means insuring that a predetermined number ofstitches will be formed by one needle in the idle periodof thedisconnected SEWING-MACHINE NEEDLE-COEETROLLING MEOHAN ISM 1925. SerialNo. 35,854.

machine embodying the present improve merits, the improvedstitch-counting device being disconnected from its actuating mechanismand the needle-bars being shown in full lines as coupled for unisonreciprocation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is anenlarged rear side elevation of the stitchrcounting device. Fig. i is anenlarged perspective view of the counting device, viewed 'i rom the rearside of the machine. Fig. is an enlarged transverse sectional View ofthe counting device. Fig. 6 is a sectionai view on the line a7.rc ofFig. 1. Fig. 7. is a front end elevation of the counting-device bracket.F 8 comprises detail perspective views of the neecllerholders. Fig. 9isasec tion substantially on the line y.g fof Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is aperspective view of the forward end of the countingdevice bracket.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated onlyso much oi thesewing machine as is deemed essential to an understanding of the presentinvention. The sewing machine incl-tit s the renal overhanginglbraclret-arm 1 terminating at its forward end in the :head

2, in which bracket-arm is journaled the rotary main orneedle-reciprocating shattii. At its forward end, the shaft 3 carriesthe usual crank-disk i connected by means oi. a link 5 with a stud 6projecting laterally from asplit-collar I clamped by meansoi a screw 8upongamain needle-bar '9. The needle-bar 9 is journaled for'endwisereciprocation in suitable bearings provided by an upperelongatedbushing10 and a lower bushing 11 disposed in alined apertures in the head 2.The needle-bar 9 is tor-med with a rectangular groove 12 in which isslidingly disposed an auxiliary slab-sided needle-bar 13. The innersurface of the collar ,7 is partially cut away to provide a clearance 14for the needlebar 13, whereby the needle-bar 9 may be reciprocated bythe link independently of the needle-bar 13. Secured by means of a screw15 upon the lower end of the needle-bar 9 is a segmental collar 16 of aneedle-holder 17 in which a needle 18 is suitably fastened by aset-screw 19. Secured by means of screws, as 20, upon the needle-bar 13is a collar 21 of an auxiliary needle-holder 22 in which a needle 23 issecured by means of a set-screw 24. As the collar 21 overlies the collar16, the needle-bar 9 is free to reciprocate independntly of theneedle-bar 13 when the needlebars are uncoupled as will hereinafter bedescribed.

Adjacent its upper end, the needle-bar 13 is formed with a laterallyextending, apertured lug 25 in which a ceupling-pin 26 is slid- .nglydisposed to enter an aperture 27 in the needle-bar 9, whereby to compelunison reciprocation of said bars upon rotation of the shaft 3. The lug25 projects through a slot 28 formed in the bushin 10, and thecouplingpin 26 extends laterally from a vertically aperturedcoupling-block 29 which is slidingly disposed upon a vertical guide-pin30 carried by a reciprocatory slideblock 31, said slide-block 31 beingmounted in a suitable undercut guideway 32 provided in the forwardportion 33 of a counting-device supporting bracket 34. The bracket 34 issecured by a screw 35 upon the bracket-arm 1 of the ma chine and isapertured to embrace the bushing 10 whereby it is fixed againstmovement. This bracket 34 carries the several elements constituting thestitch-counting device, which is therefore a self-contained unit.

The coupling and uncoupling of the needlebars is effected byreciprocatory movements of the slide-block 31, the movement to uncouplethe bars being manually effected. To this end, the slide-block 31 isconnected by means of a link 36 with one end of a lever 37 pivotallysupported by a screw 37 in a milled out slot 38 provided in anupstanding lug 38 of the bracket portion 33. The other end of the lever37 has a ball-joint connection with one end of a link 39 of which theother end is pivotally connected with a Vibratory arm 40 fulcrumed upona stud-screw 41 threaded into the bracket 34. A spring 42 connected atone end with the bracket 34 and at its other end with the arm 40functions to yieldingly hold said arm in position wherein theneedle-bars are coupled for unison reciprocation, this position of thearm 40 being determined by an adjustable stop-screw 43 threaded into alug 44 upon the bracket 34. The vibratory arm 5 40 is apertured toreceive the offset end of a rod 45 connecting said arm with a two-armedlever 46, fulcrumed upon the machine arm 1 and suitably connected with atreadle (not shown), said lever 46 being acted upon by a I spring 47 inthe same direction as does the spring 42 upon the arm 40, i. e., to holdthe needle-bars in coupled relationship. The movement of the lever 46under the action of its spring is preferably limited by a stoppin 48which may be adjustably secured in any suitable manner upon themachine-arm.

It will be apparent that when. the lever 46 is treadle-actuated to swingit in opposition to the spring 47 the arm 40 will be rocked inopposition to the spring 42, which movement is transmitted to theslide-block 31 through the described connections therewith, whereuponthe coupling-pin 26 is withdrawn from the needle-bar 9. Means arehowever provided to prevent the uncoupling of the needle-bars exceptingduring the upper p0rtion of their stroke, in order to insure that thecounting device, to be later described, will register the exact numberof reciprocations of the needle-bar 9 while the needle-bar 13 is idle.To this end a bracket 49 is secured by screws, as 50, upon the frontface of the lug 38, which bracket is provided at its lower end with alaterally extending stop-member 51. The stop-member 51 is so disposedwith respect to the coupling-block 29 as to permit verticalreciprocations of said block but so as to prevent a lateral uncouplingmovement thereof during the lower portion of the stroke of theneedle-bar 13.

The disconnected needle-bar 13 is carried to the upper end of its strokeby the needlebar 9 and it is retained in this position until againautomatically re-coupled with the bar The retaining means comprises ashoulder 52 of a pawl 53 which is pivotally mounted upon the bracket 49by a pivot-screw 54 and is normally spring-pressed against the bracketmember 51 by a spring 55. The shoulder 52 snaps under the coupling-block29 when the latter is shifted laterally for disconnecting the needle-bar13 and as said needle-bar reaches the upper end of its stroke. Theupstrok of the disconnected needle-bar is preferably limited by abufi'errod 56 disposed to overlie the nee lie-bar, said rod 56 beingslidingly mounted in the bracketlug 38 and acted upon by a spring 57 toyieldingly hold it in a position determined by a collar 58 upon the rodand resting upon the upper side of the lug 38.

Improved mechanism, constituting in effect a stitch-counting device, isprovided for automatically re-coupling the disconnected needle-bar withthe continuously reciprocated needle-bar after a predetermined number ofreciprocations of the latter subsequently to the throwing out ofoperation of the needle-bar 13. To this end, the vibratory arm 40carries a pin 59 which in the connected position of the needle-barsoverlies the forward end 60 of a latch-lever 61 pivotally mounted uponthe rear face of the bracket 34 by means of a pivot-screw 62. The underside of this latch-lever 61 is engaged by a plunger 63 slidingly mountedin a socket 64 of the bracket 34 in which socket is disposed a spring 65which urges said latch-lever upwardly. The latch-lever 61 is formed atits forward end with a latching-notch 66 and on its upper side with aflat surface 67. When the vibratory arm is actuated to disconnect theneedle-bars and the 1atch-pin 59 rides off the forward end 60 of thelatch-lever into alinement with the notch 66 whereupon said lever 61snaps upwardly into latching position under the action of the spring 65.Consequently after manual actuation of the arm 40 to disconnect theneedle-bar 13, said arm 40 is locked in this position. To release thearm 40 from the latch-lever 61 after a pre' determined period ofoperation of the machine there is provided a tappet 68 of which the hubis secured by means of a spot-screw 69 upon one end of a shaft 70. Theshaft 70 is journaled for rotary movements within the bore of a sleeve71 which is itself journaled for rotation Within a stationary bushing 72 fixed by means of a set-screw 'Z 3 within a suitable aperture formedin the bracket 34. Mounted upon one end of the sleeve 71 adj acent aflange 74 thereof is an indicator-disk 7 5 which is fixed to said sleeveby a plurality of pins, as 7 6, and is disposed in contact with thefront face of the bracket 34 to prevent endwise movement of the sleeve71 in one direction.

The shaft 70 extends outwardly beyond the disk 7 5 and slidingly securedthereupon, by

1 means of a spline 77, is a tappet-adjusting member 78 having amanipulating knob 7 9. Formed upon the end of the shaft 7 0 opposite tothe tappet 68 is a shaft-head 80 disposed within a recess 81 formed inthe knob '4' 9 and interposed between said head 80 and the base of therecess 81 is a coil-spring 82 which functions to yieldingly hold theadjusting member 78 in contact with the disk 7 5. Carried by theadjusting-member 7 8 is a locking-pin 83 adapted to enter any one of aplurality of radially equidistant apertures 84 formed in the disk 75,which is suitably graduated to number said apertures on the side of saiddisk facing the machine operator. It will be apparent from the foregoingdescription that by pulling upon the knob 'Z9, the adjusting member 2 8may be moved longitudinally of the shaft 7 0 against the action of thespring 82 to withdraw the locking pin 83 and reposition it in thedesired aperture 84. By this repositioning movement, the position of thetappet 68 is adjusted with respect to the latch-lever 61 because of thespline 77 connection between the member 7 8 and the shaft 70.

The movement of the arm 40 to disconnect the needle-bar 13 from theneedle-bar 9 throws into eii'ective action an operating mechanism whichintermittently advances the tappet 68 into engagement with thelatchlever 61 .to release the latter from the pin 59 at a predeterminedcycle of operation of the machine, whereupon the spring 42 acts upon thearm 40 to re-couple the needle-bars in the upper position of theneedle-bar 9. To this end, a rocker-arm 85 is journal'ed tor oscillatorymovement upon an enlarged portion 86 of the bushing 72 formed with anarcuate recess 87. The rocker-arm 85 has a ball-joint connection withone end of apitman 88, which passes through a suitable aperture formedin a coverplate 89 of the machine bracket-arm 1. The other end of thepitman is formed with a strap 90 which embraces an eccentric 91 upon theshaft 3, and consequently the arm 85 is continuously rocked during theoperation of the machine. Pivotal'ly mounted upon the rocker-arm 85, by

means of a pivot-bolt 92 is a pawl 93 having an actuating tooth 94adapted in the operative position of the pawl to engage the teeth 95formed on a portion of the periphery of a ratchet-wheel 96. The hub ofthe ratchetwheel is secured by a spot-screw 97 upon the sleeve 71.

Disposed within the bushing recess 87 is a coil-spring 98 of which oneend 99 enters a suitable aperture in the ratchet-wheel 96 and the otherend 100 enters an aperture in the bushing-shoulder 86.- By adjusting thebushing circularly within its support, the tension of the spring 98 maybe varied. The periphery of the ratchet-wheel 96 opposite to the teeth95 is partially cut away to provide a stop-shoulder 102 which isyieldingly held, by the action of the spring 98, in engagement with astop-screw 103 adjustably secured in a suitable manner in an aperturedcar 104 provided on the bracket 34. A bent flat spring 105, which issecured by a screw 106 upon the rocker-arm 85, acts upon the pawl 93 toyieldingly urge said pawl to operatively engage the ratchet-teeth 9'5.

Pivotally mounted upon the frame 34 by means of a pivot-screw 107 is astop-pawl 108 which is urged by a spring 109 to engage the ratchet-teeth95 to prevent retrograde movement of said ratchet-wheel during thereturn movements of the actuating pawl 93 when the latter is in itsefiective position. In the coupled relationship of the needle bars,however, both the actuating pawl 93 and the stop-pawl 108 are held outof engagement with the ratchet-teeth 95 by the provision upon saidstop-pawl 108 of a shoulder 110 which is engaged by a pin 111 carried bythe arm 40 and by disposing the end of thestoppawl 108 below the freeend ot the actuating pawl 93. Consequently while the arm 40 is heldagainst the stop-screw 43, the pin 111 holds the stop-pawl and thelatter holds the actuating pawl out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth95.

In the normal operation of the machine, as before indicated, theneedle-bars9 and 13 are Zhe buffer-rod 56.

coupled for unison reciprocation and the arm 40 is held against thestop-screw 43 by the spring 12, whereby the latclrpin 59 holes thelatch-lever 61 depressed and the pawlsnift-ing pin 111 holds the pawlsout of engagement with tie ratchet-teeth 95 so that the arm rocks idly.When approaching an angle in the seam, it is necessary to throw one ofthe needles out of operation and hold it out of. operation until theother needle has made a definite munber of stitches up to and beyond theseam angle, consistent with the distance between the needles and thelength of stitches made. If this is not don the seam will manifestly notcomprise spaced parallel lines of uniform stitches throughout,

Consequently when it is deisred to make an angle seam, the operatoradjusts the position of the tappet 68 in accordance with the number ofcorner stitches to be made by the needle-bar 9, this adjustment beingeffected by manipulating the adjusting member 78 to position the lockingpin Q53 in the desired aperture 8 1. For instance, if it is desired tomake eight corner stitches, the pin 83 is in sorted in the aperturenumbered as 8. As the stitching approaches the angle-vertex, theoperator actuates a treadle to rock the lever 46, whereby the arm 40 isswung in a direc tion to permit the latch-pin 59 to ride off the end ofthe latch-lever 61 into the latching notch 66 thereof and to uncouplethe needlehar 13 from the bar 9 through the descriher. connections,although the uncoupling movenent will be nermi'ted only during the upperportion of the stroke of the needle-bars because of the stop-member 51.The needlebar 13, while idle, is retained at the upper end of its strokeby the holding pawl 53 and The movement oi? the arm 410 to uncouple theneedle-bars causes it to carry the pawl-shitting pin 111 into a position permitting both pawls 93 and 108 to engage the ratchet-teeth 95whereupon the con- 1 iginuous rocking movements of the arm 85 arerendered effective to cause intermittent rotati re movements of theratchet-wheel 96 and thereby cause the tappet 68 to approach thelatch-lever 61 step-by-step, i. e., one advancing movement for eachstitch made by the needle-bar 9.

As the inoicator-disk 75 is rigidly secured to the ratchetwheel 96, itis also rotated stepby-step, i. e., stitch-by-stitch, the number ofstitches of advance of said disk 75 being indicated to the machineoperator by a pointer 112 secured by means of a screw 113 upon thebracket 34. When half of the total number of corner stitches have beenmade, which "fact is indicated to the operator by the disk 7 5 andpointer 112, the operator turns the work to form the desired angle ofseam and when the total number of corner stitches have been made, thetappet 68 acts upon the surface 67 of the latch-lever 61 to release saidlatch-lever whereupon the parts are automatically returned to initialposition to recouple the needle-bars, the disk 7 5 being also returnedto initial position determined by the engagement of the stop-shoulder102 with the stop-screw 103 effected by the spring 98.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis- 1. In a sewing machine, the combination with two needle bars,actuating mechanism for reciprocating said needle-bars, and controllingmeans for uncoupling one of said needle-bars from its actuatingmechanism during the operation of the machine, of a latch-lever forholding said controlling means in needle-bar uncoupled POSiLlOD, alatchlever releasing tappet, a tappet adjusting member, anindicator-disk, means including a spring for yieldin ly locking saidadjusting member to indicator-disk, and operating mechanism brought intoeffective action by the operation of said controlling means forintermittently rotating said indicatordisk and tappet to release saidlatch-lever.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with two needle-bars, actuatingmechanism for reciprocating said needle-bars, and controlling means foruncoupling one of said needle-bars from its actuating mechanism duringthe operation of the machine, of means for latching said controllingmeans in needlebar uncoupled position, and a counting device forreleasing the controlling means from its latching means alter apredetermined iiterval oi operation of the continuously reciprocatedbar, said counting device comprising a stationary supporting frame, acontinuously actuated rocker-arm fulcrumed upon said frame, an actuatingpawl carried by said arm, a ratchet-wheel journaled upon said frame, anindicator disk secured to said ratchet-wheel, a rock-shaft, an adjustingmember splined upon said rock-shaft, means including a spring foradjustably locking said adjusting member to said indicator disk, and atappet carried by said rock-shaft for releasing said latching means.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with two needle-bars, actuatingmechanism for reciprocating said needle-bars, and manually controlledmeans for uncoupling one of said needle-bars from its actuatingmechanism during the oper tion or the machine, of a stop-member limitingthe effective opera tion of said manually controlled means to the upperp rtion of the stroke of said needlebars, and mechanisms forautomatically recoupling said needle-bars.

1. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including areciprocatory needle, actuating mechanism for reciprocating said needle,normally inactive indicating device, and means manually operable duringa portion only of a cycle of operation of the machine tor initiating theoperation of said indicating device in timed relation with respect tosaid needle-actuating mechanism to definitely denote to an operator thenumber of the instant cycle of operation of the machine in a pluralityof successive cycles of operation thereof.

5. In a sewing machine, stitclrforming mechanism including areciprocatory needle, actuating mechanism for reciprocating said needle,a normally ineffective stitch-counting device, and means manuallyoperable during a portion only of a cycle of operation of the machinefor rendering said needle inoperative and initiating the operation ofsaid counting device in definitely timed relationship with respect tosaid actuating mechanism.

6. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including areciprocatory needle, actuating mechanism for reciprocating said needle,a stitclrcountin device, means manually operable during a portion onlyof a cycle of operation of the machine for rendering said needleinoperative and initiating the effective operation of said countingdevice, and means controlled by said counting device for automaticallyrenderin operative the inoperative needle.

7. In a sewing machine, stitching-forming mechanism including areciprocatory needle, actuating mechanism for reciprocating said needle,a normally ineffective stitch-counting device, means manually operableduring a portion only of a cycle of operation of the machine forinitiating the effective operation of said counting device in definitelytimed re lationship with respect to said needle-actuating mechanism, andmeans for automatically returning the counting device to initialposition after a predetermined number of cycles of operation of themachine have been counted thereby.

8. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a pluralityof reciprocatory needles, actuating mechanism for reciprocating saidneedles, means manually operative during a portion only of any completecycle of operation of the machine for disconnecting one of said needlesfrom its actuating mechanism, a stitch-counting device brought intoefiective operation as said needle is rendered inoperative in definitelytimed relationship with respect to said actuating mechanism, andautomatically acting means for re-connecting said needle with itsactuating mechanism and rendering said counting device inoperative.

9. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including areciprocatory needle, actuating mechanism for reciprocating said needle,means manually operable during a portion only of a complete cycle ofoperation of the machine for disconnecting said needle from itsactuating mechanism, a counting device brought into effective operationby said needle-disconnecting means for automatically controlling there-coupling of the needle with its actuating mechanism, and adjustablemeans for predetermining the recoupling action of said counting device.

10. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle-carrying bar,actuating mechanism for endwise reciprocating said bar, manuallycontrolled means operable during a portion only of any complete cycle ofoperation of the machine for disconnecting said bar from itsreciprocating means, a counting device thrown into efiective action indefinitely timed relationship with respect to said actuating mechanismby the operation of said manually controlled means for predeterminingthe period of inactivity of the disconnected bar, and an indicatorassociated with said counting device for visibly denoting to an operatorthe number of the instant cycle of operation of said actuating mechanismin the successive cycles of operation during the period of inactivity ofthe disconnected needle-bar.

11. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle-carrying bar,actuating mechanism for endwise reciprocating said bar, manuallycontrolled means for disconnecting said bar from its reciprocating meansduring the operation of the machine, a normally inefl'ective countingdevice mounted in fixed position upon the machine frame, means forbringing said counting device into effective operation by the operationof said manually controlled means, and a spring controlled by saidcounting device for effecting re-coupling of said needle-bar with itsactuating mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERIG M. CARD.

